It was a good week for …
A SETTLEMENT. Parties representing the Little Rock School District, North Little Rock School District, Pulaski County Special School District and two intervening parties, the Joshua Intervenors and the Knight Intervenors, all agreed to settle a 30-year legal battle over desegregation payments that have totaled $1 billion.
ATTORNEY GENERAL DUSTIN MCDANIEL. Is there a more successful politician in Arkansas today? After stepping in as the state’s chief and most aggressive critic of Exxon’s role in the Mayflower oil spill and its aftermath, McDaniel masterfully handled the negotiations of the school desegregation settlement. It’s a shame personal misstep pushed him out of the 2014 gubernatorial race. He would have been a formidable candidate.
CIRCUIT JUDGE JAY MOODY. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination of Moody to a seat on the federal bench in Little Rock. Approval came by voice vote without debate, which likely means Moody will be easily confirmed.
GUNNING FOR VOTES. Republican gubernatorial candidate Curtis Coleman is giving away an AR-15 donated by Don’s Weaponry, apparently to build a mailing list. No contribution required, just submission of mailing information.
BUYING BOOZE IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK. Voters in six precincts in the Park Hill neighborhood of North Little Rock overturned a ban on alcohol sales in place since 1966.
THE ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS. Saturday came and went without the football team losing another game.
It was a bad week for …
THE PULASKI COUNTY JAIL. Sheriff Doc Holladay warned that the jail is so overcrowded that he’s potentially weeks away from being forced to turn away all but those arrested for violent crimes. The growing population was spurred by recent changes to the state parole system.